In Southwestern Europe, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and Spain to the east, one can find the country of Portugal. Although it is quite small - about the size of Indiana for our American visitors - it has been an important part of Europe throughout the ages.
In the 15th and 16th century, it was a maritime power, but today, its influence in the area is not as strong as it once was. After having been through an earthquake, occupation during wars, and coups, Portugal became a founding member of NATO, and is now a member in the EU.
Because of its position on the edge of Europe, Portugal does not have as many visitors as some of the other European countries. However, this makes for an even greater experience for the traveler, due to the lack of crowds, and the moderate prices for food, lodging and touring. The climate is similar to that of the southern coast, with warm, dry summers along with mild, rainy winters.
Explore the many highlights of Portugal with our guides to the regions and important destinations of this fascinating country.
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Portugal’s location along the coast of the Atlantic on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula is the reason its history is centered around hundreds of years of discovery and ocean adventure. Today, remnants of this age are still symbols of the culture of Portugal. Over the years it was exposed to several different civilizations that have left behind huge artistic and archeological monuments. Combine this with the sunny climate and the diverse geography and Portugal is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Europe. The Centre or Centro region of Portugal is probably the part of Portugal that has the biggest natural contrasts. It has fantastic beaches on the coast that is also dotted with cozy fishing villages. Testaments to the ancient Romans can be found in Coimbra, ancient castles are scattered throughout the region, and you can even ski in the southern tip of the Centre.
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal consisting of a group of islands to the south-west of mainland Portugal. Islands within the group include Madeira itself, and Porto Santo, the Savage Islands and the Desertas. Madeira island is known for its exotic vegetation, breathtaking views from the mountain tops, crystal clear ocean water and warm weather year around. While this is one of the smaller Portuguese islands, there is still plenty to do and see. Another added bonus is that the locals enjoy catering to the tourists needs.
The North, or Norte, is the oldest region of Portugal. The Norte region is located in southwestern Europe and it is one of five main regions. In addition, the main regions consists of the sub regions Alto Trás-os-Montes, Ave, Cávado, Douro, Entre Douro e Vouga, Grande Porto, Minho-Lima and Tâmega and the Districts Braga, Braganca, Porto, Viana Do Castelo, Vila Real, Aveiro, Guarda and Viseu.
Alentejo literally translates to “Beyond the Tagus” and is located in the dense and balmy area extending to the southern ends of Portugal and bordering on the Algarve region which is lush in seafood and fruit production.
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Situated between North America and Portugal, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, lie the nine islands that make up the Azores Islands. Portuguese explorers first discovered the islands in the early 1400’s, and they are still a part Portugal today. The Islands are about 950 miles away from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, as well as its largest city. It has a population of 564,657 in the city limits, and the urban area encompasses around 2.8 million people altogether. Like many other famous cities in the world like Rome, San Francisco, Moscow and Istanbul, Lisbon is built on seven hills. It is the most westerly city in continental Europe, and is located on the western Iberian Peninsula of the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. It is only around 200 miles away from Africa.
The Algarve region of Portugal is in the southern portion of that country’s mainland. It is undoubtedly the most popular region in Portugal for tourists in large part to the magnificent coastline and ideal year-round climate. Many of the present day resorts in the Algarve were small fishing villages in the past, and some of the architecture still reflects the earlier times of the area, with narrow streets and ancient churches. The province is well known because of its abundance of almond trees, as well as others such as lemons, oranges and figs, to name a few. These are grown in the inland area of the province, also known as the “Garden of Portugal”. In today’s world, golf courses have become as popular as the fruit trees at several resorts.
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The Alentejo region of Portugal is secluded from the rest of Portugal by the vast Tagus River. Vacationers and travelers wishing to explore a diverse, historical, and scenic part of the world will find this destination to be rich in culture, entertainment, and breathtaking scenery.
